US Secretary of Education John B. King’s Call for Return to Well-Rounded Education for All Students

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US Secretary of Education John B. King’s Call for Return to Well-Rounded Education for All Students

April 14, 2016

Today, Secretary John B. King called for a “renewed focus on well-rounded education for all students” at the Las Vegas Academy for the Arts in Nevada. The speech highlighted provisions in the new federal law, Every Student Succeeds Act, that sends a strong message to state and district policy makers that “every kid in this country needs and deserves access to the subjects that go into being a well-educated person.” He cited subjects listed in the new law, including music and art, that are important in preparing students to be ready for today’s world. The new law replaced No Child Left Behind which marginalized subjects that were not tested. ESSA specifically addresses the need to provide access to well-rounded subjects for all students. Secretary King stressed that “It’s about being skilled and knowledgeable about a wide range of subjects, expert and passionate about a few, and confident in the quest for more knowledge.”

Progressive Music and The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) and its 10,300 member companies support the Every Student Succeeds Act for its language providing access to a well-rounded education for all students. We commend Secretary King for his comments today and his leadership in this important direction as the U.S. Department of Education moves forward with implementation of the new law and provides guidance to states and school districts.